CHICAGO (AP) — The city of Chicago has turned down
a request from anti-Wall Street protesters for a permanent home in downtown's
Grant Park.
Lawyers for the city and Occupy Chicago met
Thursday.
Protesters want the city to allow them to set up a
home base for the growing movement in Grant Park without being arrested.
Chicago police made more than 300 arrests the last
two weekends after protesters remained in the park after it closed.
Occupy Chicago also asked the city to drop pending
charges against protesters who were arrested, a request that was also denied.
Roderick Drew is a spokesman for the city's Law
Department, and he described the meeting as cordial.
He says the city respects protesters' First
Amendment rights but also has an obligation to enforce its laws.
Copyright
2011 The Associated Press.
